WHO members approve global climate plan

The members of the World Health Organisation (WHO) are extending the industry’s efforts to combat climate change. On Tuesday in Geneva, they validated a global plan to strengthen industry’s initiatives to limit the effects on health. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The discussions at the World Health Assembly were more complicated than expected. Last year, countries gave the secretariat a broad mandate to prepare this global plan. However, hours of debate failed to reach a conclusion on Monday, extending the discussion into committee on Tuesday, where it continued for several more hours. Supported by Russia, Saudi Arabia had asked for the plan to be postponed until 2026. The group of Eastern Mediterranean countries, of which Riyadh is a member, then formalised an amendment along these lines, which was rejected by 86 votes to 23, with 11 abstentions. The plan was then approved by 109 votes to none, with 19 abstentions. Moscow considered that the plan ...